Fishermen want total enforcement of fisheries regulation

Tema, Aug 31, GNA - Members of the Ghana Inshore Fisheries Association (GIFA) have reiterated their call on the Ministry of Agriculture to ensure the total enforcement of the fisheries regulation.

The regulation has banned the use of under-sized fishing nets and light fishing among other fishing methods.

Mr Joe Klamoh, the Tema District President of GIFA, told the Ghana News Agency in an interview on Monday that without proper enforcement, the regulation would not yield the expected result since only a few would adhere to it.

Mr Klamoh explained that whereas the regulation stated clearly that under-sized nets with less than 25mm mesh size should not be used for fishing, some fishermen are using them.

He expressed regret that 93even though members of GIFA are adhering to the directives, others are using the under-sized nets, as well as mosquito nets to fish".

Mr Klamoh said about 8,000 out of 13,000 canoes being manned by artisan fishermen on Ghana's waters were actively using lower sized nets contrary to the regulation.

He said the practice resulted in the catching of fingerlings which should have been left to grow.

Mr Klamoh said other banned fishing methods such as the use of light in fishing and pair trawling were still being practised.

He called on all fishermen to use the best methods in fishing, as well as strictly comply with the fishing regulation, to protect the fingerlings and ensure better catch.

Mr Klamoh appealed to the government to properly equip the Ghana Navy with logistics to help them patrol the country's waters to apprehend those who contravened the directives.